plate no. 9117

Dmitry L'vovich Ignatyev, Russian General

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguremilitaryuniformmanclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones, as well as practice in depicting textures like fabric and metal.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of muted browns and grays.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, uniform, and epaulettes.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying attention to highlights and shadows to create form.
step 05
Develop the details of the uniform, including the buttons, medals, and epaulettes, using smaller brushes.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the uniform to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and texture.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · gold

Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Achieve the dark uniform color by mixing black and umber. Create gold tones by mixing yellow ochre with a touch of burnt sienna and white.

techniques